Talk is cheap; don't suppress state's votes

If the intent of legislators isn't to suppress votes with photo ID, they should be open to measures to ensure that won't happen.

Two states allow voting by mail. Some states are flexible about identification at the polls. North Dakota, alone in the nation, doesn't require voter registration.

What they all have in common is a desire to maximize voter registration and turnout. Historically, Wisconsin has been among these states. The result has been one of the highest voter participation levels in the nation. But the state is mulling restricting access through photo ID and eliminating same-day registration, all in the name of a malady - voter fraud - that substantially does not exist.

Of the eight states that require or request photo ID (Oklahoma's law takes effect in July), only three beat the national turnout in November. And all three of these provide some alternative method to prove identity in the absence of photo ID.

Photo ID advocates say the measure isn't about voter suppression. We say: Prove it. Here's what can be done to prove it's not just talk:

Same-day registration. At least nine states allow election-day registration. Of these, eight recorded higher voter turnout in the 2010 midterm elections than the national turnout. Wisconsin's 49.7% turnout in November made it fourth highest. But success seems to bother some in Madison. They are considering eliminating Wisconsin's same-day registration. The best "reform" to ensure broad access to the ballot would be to simply leave this alone.

Automatic voter registration. What if the state, after culling for ineligibility, automatically registered to vote everyone who got a driver's license - and was 18 or older - or paid state taxes? What if interaction with other state agencies resulted in the same thing?

The result would be more people registered. Does that translate into higher turnout? Hard to tell, but there is no harm here and a great potential for good in making sure that everyone eligible to vote at least can't use lack of registration as an excuse.

The Selective Service already collaborates with other government agencies to compile its list of military-eligible Americans. And you'd only be registered. The voting is up to you and an opt-in or out provision could be included.

Election day failsafe.

According to a National Conference of State Legislature's assessment in November, "In no state is a voter who cannot produce identification turned away from the polls - all states have some sort of recourse for voters without identification to cast a vote."

Wisconsin mustn't become the exception. Idaho, Michigan and South Dakota allow a person without a photo ID to fill out an affidavit in the absence of photo ID. There is no reason Wisconsin couldn't do the same if it is intent on enacting photo ID.

And since it has this intent, say yes to a suggestion from Government Accountability Board chief Kevin Kennedy that any photo ID bill allow passports and student IDs to be counted.

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Election reform

There are other measures touted as election reform. Some to consider:

Two-top-vote-getter primary. An open primary with voters able to vote across party tickets. This might attract voters beyond just the party passionate to primaries. The top two of any party advance to a general election.

Ranked-choice voting. Eliminate primaries altogether. Here's how Fair Vote describes it: "Voters get one vote and one ballot, but get to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins with a first-choice majority, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and their supporters' second choices are distributed to the remaining candidates in an 'instant runoff.' The process of elimination and redistribution continues until one candidate has a majority."

Weekend voting. Just what it says. Why vote in the middle of the work week? Louisiana generally votes on Saturdays.

Vote by mail. Probably an automatic non-starter in Wisconsin. But it works for Oregon and Washington. Just what it says: You don't go to the polls; you vote by mail.